Blessed Francis de Posadas

Blessed Francis de Posadas – September 20th

This Spanish boy’s parents were vegetable merchants and they were happy at the thought that their son wanted to become a priest. But his father died and when his mother married again, his stepfather would not let him go ahead with his studies. He sent Francis to work, and the boy’s employer at first was very mean to him. Poor Francis! All his hopes seemed ruined now. Yet he worked hard and patiently, even when his master stormed at him. At last, the master was won by his goodness, and even helped Francis to go ahead with his studies whenever he had free time.

When he was nineteen, Francis finally saw his dream come true: he entered the Dominican order. Yet, here, too, he had to suffer, because at first, the others did not understand him and some of them made fun of him. But he did not quit. He stayed right there and became a priest.

After he was ordained, Francis began his preaching missions, which were to last for forty years, until his death. He traveled on foot all over the southwest part of Spain and made a great impression on sinners by his words and his penances. People began to live such better lives that many bad theaters had to close down because they had no business.

Blessed Francis tried to avoid all praise and admiration. He would not accept any high positions and turned down chances to become a bishop. He also tried to hide the miracles God worked for him.

When we feel like quitting, we must not give in. Instead, let us fight against every obstacle until we are gloriously successful.

St. Januarius and His Companions

St. Januarius and His Companions – September 19

St. Januarius, bishop of Benevento, was beheaded at Pozzuoli near Naples at the beginning of the 4th century. Among his companions in martyrdom the Roman martyrology names Socius, Proculus, Eutychius and Acutius. The fame of St. Januarius rests chiefly on the miracle of the liquefaction of his blood, which still occurs in the cathedral of Naples. The dry blood, coagulated in a dark lump, is kept in a glass phial; when this is placed near the martyr’s head, the blood becomes liquid, increasing in weight and volume, and takes on the bright red colour of fresh blood, while its surface bubbles so that it is said to boil. This phenomenon takes place three times a year: during nine days festival beginning on the first Sunday of May; during the octave of his feast from September 19 to 26; and on December 16.

St. Emily de Rodat

St. Emily de Rodat – September 19th

Emily was a lively little French girl who sometimes had temper tantrums, but still was very devout. A cousin who once tried to kiss her received a hard slap. Yet when she was a young lady of sixteen, she began to cut short her prayers and think more of having fun and carefree times. For one year, she was like this, and felt restless and bored. Then she began to see that only God could make her happy and never again did she change her mind.

For a number of years, Emily was not sure what kind of a nun she should be. But in her twenty-eighth year, she suddenly decided her mission would be to teach poor children. She began with the help of other young women, and soon the Congregation of the Holy Family had been founded. Like all holy Foundresses, Emily had to face many sufferings and trials, but her Congregation grew steadily. When some people told lies about her and others wrote insulting letters to her, the Saint used these occasions to humble herself. She would answer respectfully and gently, and when one of the Sisters was upset at that, Mother Emily said, “Don’t you know that we are the scum of the earth, and that anyone can trample on us?”

As a young girl, she had once been quite proud of herself, but now she paid so little attention to her appearance that at times, she looked ridiculous! Although St. Emily was a strong woman, she was also a very cheerful soul. “Keep your enthusiasm, and be brave,” she once wrote to a postulant. “Put all your trust in God, and preserve a holy cheer.” This she herself did through her every trial and suffering.

I will never shorten my prayers, and I will keep my mind on them, so God will hear me and bless me in my life.

St. Joseph of Cupertino

St. Joseph of Cupertino – Patron of Aviators – September 18th

Joseph was born in a small village in Italy of poor parents. He was very unhappy as a boy and a teenager. His mother considered him a nuisance and treated him harshly. Joseph soon became very slow and absent-minded. He would wander around, going nowhere, his mouth gaping open. But he had a bad temper, too, and so, he was not at all popular. He tried to learn a trade of shoe-making, but failed. He asked to become a Franciscan, but they would not accept him. Next, he joined the Capuchins, but eight months later, they sent him away because he could not seem to do anything right. He dropped piles of dishes and kept forgetting to do what he was told. His mother was not at all pleased to have the eighteen-year-old Joseph back home again, so she finally got him accepted as a servant at the Franciscan monastery. He was given a monk’s habit and put to work taking care of the horses.

About this time, Joseph began to change. He grew more humble and gentle, more careful and successful at his work. He also began to do more penance. Now, it was decided that he could become a real member of the Order and start studying for the priesthood. Although he was very good, he still had a very hard time with studies. But the examiner happened to ask him to explain the only thing he knew well, and so he was made a deacon, and later a priest. After this, God began to work many amazing miracles through St. Joseph. Over seventy times people saw him rise from the ground wile saying Mass or praying. Often he went into ecstasy and would be completely wrapped up in talking with God. He became so holy that everything he saw made him think of God, and he said that all the troubles of this world were nothing but the “play” battles children have with popguns!

St. Joseph became so famous for the miracles that he was kept hidden, but he was happy for the chance to be alone with his beloved Lord. On His part, Jesus never left him alone and one day came to bring him to heaven.

Maybe our parents, our teachers and even we ourselves may feel that we are hopeless…because we make mistakes and get into much trouble! But it is never too late! With a strong will let us keep on trying…We, too, are called to become saints.

This is a link to an excellent movie on St. Joseph's story which is sadly being taken out of movie shelves:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqT4cXOKlW4

(please note that after St. Joseph and his monks leave out of the catacombs the part where they process back to their monastery is not in the VHS movie. That part may have just been a deleted scene.)

St. Hildegard

St. Hildegard – September 17th

God favored this German nun with many special messages and she felt she should write them down, but she was too afraid. Everyone wrote in Latin in her time and she did not know Latin very well. Besides, she feared people would not believe that her visions were real. At last, however, after she had become Abbess of her convent, St. Hildegard wrote about Our Lord’s love for us, about His kingdom, the angels, the devil, and hell. An Archbishop read her writings and approved them, saying: “These visions are from God.” The Pope himself expressed happiness at these favors God had granted her, and warned her not to become proud.

St. Hildegard had many unusual talents. She wrote hymns and sacred poems and even a holy play for her nuns to enjoy in recreation time. She wrote two books on medicine and science. The scientific book is a very careful description of trees, fish, birds, animals, and metals.

Although very sick and often criticized by many people, the Saint wrote hundreds of letters to emperors and kings, to popes and bishops, and to other saints. She traveled to many convents and monasteries and to many cities to tell people what Our Lord had told her. Nor was she afraid to scold those who were sinning, and to warn some that God would punish them. If they became angry, it did not frighten St. Hildegard. “I am a poor vessel made of earth,” she would say, “and I do not say these things of myself. They come from God, the calm Light.” Her whole life was full of much activity joined with a deep peace in God, and in this same joyful peace, she died.

Sometimes we think it is difficult to be good because many around us are not good. They may even make fun of us and be mean to us. But we will learn from this Saint to be brave and be different, which means to be what we should be.

St. Edith of Wilton

St. Edith of Wilton – September 16th

Edith was the daughter of the English King, Edgar. She was taken by her good mother to a convent, there to be brought up and educated. When she was not yet fifteen, her father the king, came to visit her. It was the day she was to become a professed as a nun, but he wanted to see is she really knew what she was doing. In front of the altar, therefore, he ordered rich gold and silver jewels to be laid down on a carpet. Nearby, Edith’s mother stood holding a nun’s veil and the book of psalms. The young girl had to make her choice while all present prayed to God to show her what life to choose. Yet no one was surprised when Edith chose religious life, for they knew how much she loved God.

St. Edith could have become the Abbess of any one of three convents, but she chose to stay in the convent where her holy mother was the Superior. There she served her sisters without any thought that she was a princess. When her father and brother died, the nobles wanted Edith to leave the convent and become their queen, but she again chose to keep living in humble work and obedience rather than wear a crown.

The Saint died a joyful death when she was only twenty-two.

Let us say this little prayer, “Dear Lord, I offer myself to You. Do with me what You wish.”

Seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Seven sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary

– September 15th

Our Lady had many great joys as the Mother of Jesus, but she had much to suffer, too. It was her immense love for her Divine Son that caused Mary to suffer when she saw Jesus treated cruelly by His enemies. Mary is the Queen of Martyrs because she went through spiritual torments greater than the bodily agonies of the martyrs. Her heart was like an altar when on Calvary she offered up her beloved Jesus to save us. What a terrible suffering it was for so loving a Mother to see her Son, Who was God, die on the Cross!



There are seven times of great suffering in Our Blessed Mother’s life. The first was when she took Baby Jesus to the Temple and the Prophet Simeon told her that a sword would pierce her heart when Jesus was put to death. Her second sorrow was when she and St. Joseph had to flee to Egypt with Jesus, so Herod’s soldiers would not kill Him. The third suffering came when Mary searched three days for Jesus in Jerusalem before finding Him in the Temple. Our Lady’s fourth sorrow was when Jesus was whipped and crowned with thorns. Her fifth great pain was caused by His being lifted on the cross, where He died after three hours of agony. Mary’s sixth sorrow was the moment when Our Lord’s sacred Body was placed in her arms. And her seventh suffering came when He was buried in the sepulcher.



Our Blessed Mother did not pity herself or complain because she had to suffer so much during her life. Instead, she offered her sorrows to God for our sakes. She is our Mother and because she loves us dearly, she was happy to suffer that we might some day share her joy with Jesus in Heaven.



In honor of Our Lady of Sorrows, today I will offer up a little sacrifice without complaining, and without letting everybody know about it.

St. Notburga

St. Notburga – September 14th

This little kitchen maid is very famous in her own country, high in the Alps mountains. She was the daughter of a peasant and went to work for a Count when she was eighteen. All the food she could save after each meal she gave to the many poor people who came to the side door of the castle. She even gave them much of what she was supposed to have for her own meals. The Countess was a mean woman, however, and she gave orders that Notburga was to give the left over food to the pigs, as had been done before the holy maid came.

For a while, the Saint obeyed, although she still gave the poor part of her own food. Then, she felt so sorry for those hungry people that she began again to give them food from the table. The Countess caught her and fired her at once. Next Notburga went to work for a farmer, and here, too, she was not afraid to do what she thought was right.

One Saturday afternoon, she stopped work when the Church bells rang, because Saturday evening was considered part of Sunday and no more work was done. Her employer, however, told her to keep working. Notburga answered that no good Christian kept working unless bad weather seemed about to spoil the crops. “The weather might change,” said the farmer. “We shall see about that,” answered the Saint. Then she threw her sickle up in the air, and there it stayed in the sky, looking like the harvest moon, the sign of good weather to come!

Meantime, the selfish Countless died, and the Count was having so many troubles that people said it was all a punishment for the Countless’ meanness to the poor and to St. Notburga. So when the Count married again, he made our Saint the housekeeper of the castle, and there she spent the rest of her holy life. Just before she died, she begged the Count not to forget to take care of the poor people she loved so much.

Whoever is charitable, will receive charity. Let us be charitable then, to those who are in need, with a little offering, or a helping hand.

St. Eulogius

St. Eulogius - September 13th

This Saint was born in Syria and became a monk while he was still young. In his time, there had been so much trouble with heresies that people everywhere were confused and many had begun to lead sinful lives as a result. But Eulogius did not follow the bad example he saw around him. He shone like a bright light in the darkness because of his humility, his love of prayer, and his devoted study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church.

Eulogius had the good fortune to work for God with three other Saints. First, St. Anastasius of Antioch called him to that city to become a priest there. Then he came to know St. Eutychius of Constantinople and was a great help to him in conquering heresy. Next Eulogius was made the Bishop of Alexandria, and about two years afterwards, he became great friends with St. Gregory the Great, who later became Pope.

The two Saints wrote letters to each other, and in one of them, the humble Eulogius asked the holy Pope to check his sermon before he published it. St. Gregory approved it, saying, “I find nothing in your writings that is not admirable.”

Not too long after this beloved friend and father died, St. Eulogius, too, passed to receive the reward of his life spent for God’s Church.

If I have to suffer ridicule from any of my companions for trying to be good, I will take it. No matter the cost, I want to please God.

The Holy Name of Mary

The Holy Name of Mary

– September 12th

The great Christian city of Vienna was being attacked by the Turks, who were trying to destroy the religion of Jesus. The Turks had such a powerful army that Vienna was almost ready to surrender. It was then that the King of Poland, the famous John Sobieski, went to help the Christians of Vienna. He knew that if the Turks took Vienna, they would then pour into all of Europe to wipe out Christianity.


Before the battle, King John placed himself and his troops under the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He begged her help and served Mass in a monastery nearby, while all his soldiers knelt in prayer. Then the commanding officer gave the signal for attack and the battle began. In no time, the Turks were put to flight, and the Christians had won a great victory!


In thanksgiving for this marvelous event, King John sent the conquered flag of the Turks to Rome, as a sign of homage to Mary. Pope Innocent XI showed the gratitude of all Christians to Our Lady by extending the celebration of the Feast of her Holy Name to the whole Church.


Mary’s name was given her by God. He Himself told her parents, St. Joachim and St. Anne, to call her Mary. The name “Mary” means “lady” or “queen.” It also means “star of the sea.” What beautiful meanings! How perfect this name is for our Blessed Mother! She is truly our loving Queen and our Star. She will show us the way to reach the blessed kingdom of heaven.


Today I will invoke the most holy Name of Mary every time I feel tempted to do something wrong.